The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-11-23
1887 VS.. 1875.


We shall now attempt TO present to you
another class of ex ex-soldiers, and from the
direct import of Cleveland's Veto Message
and assertions of the few whining press
here and there throughout the country,
this class must be the camp-followers,
dead-beats, &C., referred to by them, for,
we believe we have proven to the entire
satisfaction of the iair minded man of
honest convictions, that the class or class
es referred to in former issue, needed no
special legislation in their interests to en-
title them to Pension according 10 law
their regimental and hospital records is,
with their identity" allsufficicnt in their
case,
The writer has one of this class of ex-
soldiers on his mind, one OF which he will
confine himself to more closely for exam
pie sake; his name we could give if nee
essary. This then young man went into
the service strong and robust, physically,
and while faithfully performing his duty,
dreaded disease undermined his strong
constitution beyond a reasonable doubt,
and before said disease was fully devel-
the surface, the war was fought to a sue
cessful termination and he was sent home,
mere wreck of that manliness which en-
listed for the war. A year or two ago he
applied for pension, being constitutionally
broken up and in need of help; few
weeks ago lie was informed by the depart
ment that under the present law he was
not entitled to pension, as mo record"
appeared showing that the alleged disa-
bility was contracted in the service. This
fact we submit as proof of what we have
said heretofore, viz: That the successful
termination of all claims for pension un-
der existing law depends upon the impor-
tant word "record."
We must, therefore, conclude that there
is comparatively large class of old sol
diers who made no surgical or hospital
record during their service in the army /;
a class whose record as patriotic men aud
soldiers, shines out in that grand lustre
that only encircles the brew Of the true.
patriotic, Union Soldier. President Cleve-
land and the petty press of redeemed
country may, if they can, ridicule, slur
and sneer at these records and the names
they have won upon a score of battle fields,
yet one certain fact stands out prominent
ly and above ali others, viz: That the
name of our soldiers, the fame of their
deeds, the valor OF their heroism evinced
from Bull Run to Appomattox, will be
honored and held in high repute by free
country loving people, while the names
of all their enemies of to-day will, if re-
membered, be despised.
There is now but one conclusion to this
whole matter, viz: That the Dependent
Pension Bill was calculated only to bene-
mt the class which made no medical record
While ia the service they were wonder
fully fortunate then they are wonderfully
unfortunate now. 1t is an undeniable
fact and one thai is approved of by the
best medical talent of our age, that no
man who was in active service for one,
/ two or three years returned home as sound
/ physically as when they enlisted, and
/ though they might have been so fortunate
as not to lose drop of blood nor necessi-
tated to take dose of medicine, yet on
account of said service and the exposure
attending it. their lives have been cores
pondingly shortened five, ten and fifteen
years. Now let me ask, have not these
men, who gave the best of their lives tc
their country's service, a perfect right
being in need, to ask the Government
they holped TO save to contribute a littl.
for their support in order that they might
march down and over the rugged edge o
life with some degree Of ease and comfort
No patriotic, loyal, cOuntry-loving Presi
dent or individual worthy the name o
American citizen would deny them thi.
right, nor rebuke when the plea is entered
in the interest of the hon, st soldier; bu
it is fact and cannot be successfully de
MED that it is the deserving soldier WHOM
Grover Cleveland has rebuked beyonC
reason, tru h and justice, and with slam
and abuse unbecoming leader OF thi
great country. But there is some cOnso
lation in knowing that in this particula
case Of the President the scripture is Ver
ihed, "From the abundance Of the hear
the mouth speaketh.
All the press of our country which ar
belchipg forth in favor of Growers deal
ings with the soldier bear other ear mark
of which we might refer and which Yer,
forcibly illustrate the character of the enc
my, &c. Take for instance the Philadel
phia Times, Kansas City Times, n. Y
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